Services
Looking for a detailed how-to workshop? Need a second pair of eyes on a project? Do you have questions about writing or publishing you’re looking for answers to? Gwen can help!
Workshops
Designed for libraries, Gwen’s workshops focus on the business side of publishing and writing. Virtual or live (within a certain mileage from Gwen) these workshops involve a deep dive into publishing, a Q&A session, and a note packet for participates for easy note keeping.
Each run at least 60 minutes.
Program Blurb: Self-Publishing can be expensive and confusing, but with tips from indie author Gwen Tolios you can get your work ready for self-publishing without breaking the bank. She’ll go over how to prepare your finished manuscript and get it distributed so you can start selling your books!
Program details: This 1hr workshop walks writers through the self-publishing process – from the tools used to write a novel to how to get it edited to making it available for purchase in both paperback and ebook formats. Gwen talks authors through several options at each step, free to expense, and provides guidance on where to invest money as an author grows their business. Attendees learn how to prepare files for publication and about the different options for self-publication.
Cost: $150
Optional Add-On: 30 min live demonstration of how to create a cover in Canva and set up a book via Draft2Digital. $50
Program Blurb: Marketing yourself can be daunting, especially if you’re just starting your business. From setting up social media profiles to evaluating marketing campaigns, learn how to promote yourself and/or your business from indie author and marketer Gwen Tolios.
Program details: This 1hr workshop is designed with authors in mind, but can also be used by small businesses and other creatives building a side-hustle. This workshop builds on Gwen’s experience as an indie author and her years working for marketing and PR agencies. Attendees learn about different types of marketing, where to market, how to market, and how to evaluate what works best for them.
Cost: $150
Not interested in a specific workshop, but still want to learn from Gwen? Instead of structured learning, author visits are a free format – be it an ask-me-anything format, a walk through of her writing process, or a deep dive into one of her books.
Cost: $80
Have an idea for a workshop Gwen hasn’t developed, but you really want her to teach? Let her know! Discounts offered for new workshops, designed around potential patron requests.
Editing Services
Are you an author looking for help with your project? Look no further! Gwen is happy to offer that second pair of eyes. Please send documments as MS Word files or Google docs. Price due half up front, half on completion, with the exception of query and short story critiques.
Costs vary.
Sending out query letters and sample pages to agents can be scary, as they are your only chance to catch the attention of an agent. Queries need to make your story sound exciting, and sample pages need to set up your novel in tone, motivation, and stakes. It’s important to get them right!
Deliverable: Marked up document focusing on a content edit. What’s confusing? What needs to be clarified? Where does the story logic breakdown? Will it capture an agent’s attention? Are the stakes clear?
Pricing: $20 for query page review | $40 for first 50 pages | $50 for query page + first 50 pages
Turn around: Query only – 1 week | all others, 2-3 weeks
Looking to submit a story to a magazine or anthology? As that process involves sending the whole story, not just a query and sample, it’s important to make sure it’s as good as it can be! Gwen offers full edits for short stories – complete tales under 10K.
Deliverable: Copy and content editing comments in the document, presented as inline edits, focused on story structure, logic, character motivation, and plot fulfillment. Play-by-play reading thoughts, with a paragraph summary.
Pricing: $0.006 per word. eg: a 5K story would cost $30
Turn around: 2-3 weeks
Sensitivity readers review a novel, or a part of the novel, to ensure there’s no harm being doing to a community the author isn’t apart of. They ensure a potentially delicate topic is dealt with appropriately, and certain identities are reduced to stereotypes.
Gwen provides reads for:
- asexuality
- aromanticism
- bisexuality
She also provide reads for other topics – womanhood, first generation life, angst tone, Greek culture, queerness. If you’re looking for a sensitivity read for a particular topic, it doesn’t hurt to ask!
Deliverable: Summary review of sensitivity read. Is it harmful? What needs to be further research? How accurate is the representation? What needs to be rewritten?
Pricing: Depends on the amount of text evaluated
Turn around: 2-4 weeks